Cocoa Date Energy Bars

These Cocoa Date Energy Bars are sweetened naturally with dates, require no baking, and are Paleo, vegan, and gluten-free!

I started work today! I was lucky enough to get an amazing internship at T-Mobile this summer, and I had my first day today. It was amazing and exciting and I’m beyond excited about the summer ahead. My official title is Social Media & Employer Brand Intern, which totally fits with what I love to do here on Bakerita! I’m super psyched about all that I have to learn and experience with such a great team.

All that being said, I’m exhausted from my hour and a half commute (yikes…I know) so this is going to be short and sweet.

I made these Cocoa Date Energy Bars, which were adapted from The Foodie Teen’s Chocolate Hazelnut Energy Bars. I LOVE her blog – everything is Paleo and pretty much friendly to every diet because she’s allergic to seventy-two foods. I can’t even imagine, but I’m constantly impressed by hr ability to still make such decadent and delicious treats!

I adapted her recipe pretty heavily just because I didn’t have a lot of stuff on hand, and I added more cocoa powder (yum). I gave them to my sister and she absolutely loved them. They’re chewy and a little bit sweet and come together quickly and easily. They’re absolutely perfect to grab before the gym, or for a guilt-free late night snack. Also, how awesome that they have no added sugar, are Paleo, vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, AND soy-free?! Oh, and you don’t even have to bake them!

Drain dates, and add dates, almonds and walnuts to a high powdered blender (like the Vitamix) or a food processor. Process the almonds, walnuts and dates until very fine. Add all remaining ingredients except the dark chocolate and flaked almonds, then process for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture is uniform and well combined.

Press the mixture into a 8×8 dish or pan lined with greaseproof paper (and overhang to remove the bars later on), then let them set in the fridge for about an hour.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or the microwave (stirring every 30 seconds until melted), then spread the melted chocolate over the top of the bars. Sprinkle with flaked almonds (if using), then return to the fridge for another 2-3 hours or until the chocolate has set.

Remove the bars using the parchment, then cut into 12 equal bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Comments

Hour and a half commute! GIRL, that’s brutal! But I am SO glad that you like your job – so good!
I am pretty much obsessed with all the things in these bars so I am gonna eat the whole pan…cool? Great.
Pinned!

Thank you SO much for adapting my recipe – it’s such an honour! I’m so glad you like your job.. that would pretty much be the perfect job for me except for the fact that I’d be sitting around pinning recipes all day, whoops! Thanks again – these look wonderful!

I would probably cry if I were allergic to half the things The Foodie Teen is! Cry. But these bars are nothing to cry about…except if they’re all gone! Congrats on your internship! It sounds like a blast. Well, except the commute!

Oh, these look like the perfect chocolaty snack! Your internship sounds fun, but an hour-and-a-half commute, oh my gosh. I totally can’t complain about my 45 minute commute anymore, haha. These bars would make an awesome snack if you got hungry going to or from work, though. :)